Rating: 
Summary: Refreshing and insightful
Review: If you have read the other reviews, you already know that Bishop Spong quckly sets aside the literal "Christmas Story" and the "Virgin Birth" in this book. Much more intersting to me, however, was his careful tracing of the crafting of what we know today as the "Christmas Story" in the order the various references were written, starting with Paul (I didn't realize his account was written earlier than the gospels).The core of this book is Bishop Spong's combintation of the few clues in the Bible with the intellectual and political currents of the day in the early church, and how they effected the moulding of the traditions we know today as the "Christmas Story" and the "Virgin Birth". When he has finished his interesting analysis, he then adds a final chapter to discuss how he feels the developing concept of the "purity of Mary" has influenced the state of women in the centuries since, to the present day. While this is somewhat disconnected from the rest of the book, it builds on the lessons of the previous chapters, and opens up the possibility of dialog on the subject. There is no question that this book has and will offend many Christians, but for those who are intellectually curious and like to think "out of the box", this book is a treat.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing and insightful
Review: If you have read the other reviews, you already know that Bishop Spong quckly sets aside the literal "Christmas Story" and the "Virgin Birth" in this book. Much more intersting to me, however, was his careful tracing of the crafting of what we know today as the "Christmas Story" in the order the various references were written, starting with Paul (I didn't realize his account was written earlier than the gospels). The core of this book is Bishop Spong's combintation of the few clues in the Bible with the intellectual and political currents of the day in the early church, and how they effected the moulding of the traditions we know today as the "Christmas Story" and the "Virgin Birth". When he has finished his interesting analysis, he then adds a final chapter to discuss how he feels the developing concept of the "purity of Mary" has influenced the state of women in the centuries since, to the present day. While this is somewhat disconnected from the rest of the book, it builds on the lessons of the previous chapters, and opens up the possibility of dialog on the subject. There is no question that this book has and will offend many Christians, but for those who are intellectually curious and like to think "out of the box", this book is a treat.
Rating:
Summary: A rational look at the Incarnation
Review: Much of the time I feel that I am exactly the kind of person that Christians love to hate, in that I find it very hard to disconnect my brain and accept uncritically things that are clearly at variance with reality. It was therefore a huge relief to find a theologian (and a Bishop!) who espoused the same doubts as myself, and who didn't see anything wrong with rationalism, or even being an intellectual. If Christianity is to survive it needs more people like Bishop Spong. The book brings a reasoned, historical and thoughtful approach to bear on the issue of the Incarnation and comes to an interesting conclusion that salvages much of the mystery and majesty of Christ, while ditching the myth. It will be challenging reading for traditionalists, but they should not find their faith damaged. If anything their faith should be deepened by the removal of mythological crutches. For doubters the book should be a revelation, and make Christianity look rather more attractive.
Rating: 
Summary: 3 Stars for Engagement; But Seriously Flawed Thesis 1 Star
Review: Retired Bishop John Shelby Spong's book is written extremely well with his usual flare and accessible reading style - too bad the scholarship is average at best and he resorts to his broad swipes and tired polemics. Spong often says things like, "Indeed, the concept of virgin birth itself...is today quickly dismissed in scholarly circles." (p.45) Repeating phrases like this does not make it so - while many scholars do consider the virgin birth narratives to be either false, a myth, or something of the kind, many other scholars do not. Spong must know this, but like his previous works, only seems to throw the name scholar around based on naturalistic presuppositions. While there are passages in the Bible that many fundamentalists and other Christians often do not wrestle with because of the apparent contradictions or other dilemmas, Spong uses many such passages without placing them in the proper context because many of these contradictions have been answered by other theologians and philosophers. Further, he forgets, or more than likely, intentionally hides the fact that some passages in scripture are used with an anthropomorphic idiom such as Joshua's sun stopping in the sky. Spong claims this cannot be true because the sun does not evolve around the earth, demonstrating here that the Bible is incorrect because a divine book got the structure of the universe wrong. I wonder if he is this hard on our modern weather man or woman who nightly, all across Western Civilization, provides the times the sun will set and raise each day. His analyses of Greek mythical writing infused with early Hebrew writing is spurious at best and has been handled elsewhere by more competent scholars than Spong and so I refer one to Ronald Nash's book on the "Greeks and the Gospels" here at Amazon to show the true influence and lack there of in regards to the New Testament. Further, Spong either received a poor graduate education in theology or is distorting the historic and current development of doctrine. For example, he asserts that earliest interpretations of the Christ death in purely an Anselmian doctrine when stating that "God send his emissary, and through the son's divine sacrifice the justice of God had been satisfied (p. 36)." But this is just false; the righteousness/justice of God was developed in the 12th Century by St. Anselm in his famous "Why God Became Man" (this writing can also be bought by Amazon with "The Selected Writings of Saint Anselm" by Brian Davies) as an apologetic. The early Church had many different interpretations on Christ death (atonement/ransom/victory,etc). Lastly, to keep this review short, it must be stated that Spong is unconvincing in trying to convince the reader that the gospels are midrash; they are not, but instead economian (biographic style writing popular at the time) writings and in addition, the gospels added to the worth of women, not their degradation. Women are considered equal witness to Christ resurrection (one could argue superior witnesses than to the apostles) as are men. The Catholic and Orthodox Churches have held Mary, the Theotokos (Barer of God or Mother of God), to such high esteem, that she is the model of obedience and holiness for the entire human race. I wish I could answer in this small format all the false propagnada Spong assert, but space limits us here. Spong once again is just wrong, but entertainingly so.
Rating:
Summary: It keeps getting better and better
Review: Spong's book and perspective on the virgin birth is just way to good. I never read any of his books without being skeptical to what he says, but the fact is, I can't find any other legitimate way around it. By presenting hard-fact evidence about the virgin birth and considering the society's male-dominated ego driven in the lifetime of Jesus, one just throws the all-comforting traditional idea of Mary being a virgin and the like. This book makes the reader face the Virgin birth in its logical sense, while on the side refuting the traditional nonsense taught by the christian churches for centuries.
Rating: 
Summary: [...] Devil Incarnate?
Review: The Anglican Communion should be ashamed of itself for allowing Spong to speak this way. I am not a raving fundamentalist, but I must say that Spong clearly asserts that anyone who disagrees with him is indeed a fundamentalist! He wields this word like a sword toward anyone who disagrees with his watered down and atheistic Christianity. John Spong, though he would proclaim himself as such, is NOT a biblical Scholar. It is intriguing that this wayward Episcopalian employs midrash to explain the Virgin Birth, but claims that other parts of the birth narratives are literal...the "literal" ones for Spong are of course those which back his assinine beliefs. If you want real biblical scholarship on this issue, read N. T. Wright's book "Who Was Jesus?". He provides excellent arguments against Spong, fully showing why this supposed Bishop is indeed presenting nothing more than outdated 19th century Protestant Liberalism.
Rating:
Summary: You call this scholarship?
Review: The Anglican Communion should be ashamed of itself for allowing Spong to speak this way. I am not a raving fundamentalist, but I must say that Spong clearly asserts that anyone who disagrees with him is indeed a fundamentalist! He wields this word like a sword toward anyone who disagrees with his watered down and atheistic Christianity. John Spong, though he would proclaim himself as such, is NOT a biblical Scholar. It is intriguing that this wayward Episcopalian employs midrash to explain the Virgin Birth, but claims that other parts of the birth narratives are literal...the "literal" ones for Spong are of course those which back his assinine beliefs. If you want real biblical scholarship on this issue, read N. T. Wright's book "Who Was Jesus?". He provides excellent arguments against Spong, fully showing why this supposed Bishop is indeed presenting nothing more than outdated 19th century Protestant Liberalism.
Rating:
Summary: A rational look at the Incarnation
Review: The interest in this book goes beyond the extended title, which many will read and mistake for a feminist text with an ax to grind. In fact the entire way in which the bible has been presented to the masses will be turned on its head for the uninitiated reader. It is not that what is discussed in this book is a secret to biblical scholars of any major Christian subsect. However, such studies do not reach the level of the masses and most parish priest are either ignorant of these findings, or they (and almost certainly their parishoners) are more comfortable with the 1700+ year old fixed doctrine of the major churches. If you are content with the "opium of the people," do not read this book or any others by the author. If you are seriously interested in the evolution of the christian church and thought, and in figuring out that the whole thing is really all about, don't miss it.
Rating:
Summary: If you like to "pray, pay and obey," read something else
Review: The interest in this book goes beyond the extended title, which many will read and mistake for a feminist text with an ax to grind. In fact the entire way in which the bible has been presented to the masses will be turned on its head for the uninitiated reader. It is not that what is discussed in this book is a secret to biblical scholars of any major Christian subsect. However, such studies do not reach the level of the masses and most parish priest are either ignorant of these findings, or they (and almost certainly their parishoners) are more comfortable with the 1700+ year old fixed doctrine of the major churches. If you are content with the "opium of the people," do not read this book or any others by the author. If you are seriously interested in the evolution of the christian church and thought, and in figuring out that the whole thing is really all about, don't miss it.
Rating: 
Summary: Revealed: A way to interpret Biblical meaning
Review: This book gives insight into an interesting way of interpreting the meaning of Biblical content and also provides its authors conclusions. I think that the title "Born of A Woman" characterizes the theme of the author's research pathway regarding the origins of Jesus of Nazereth, the man, as told in the gospels. The title does not reveal much about his conclusions regarding the negative effects of masculine church leadership and perpetuation of the 'Virgin Mary' myths which have dominated the Christian churches since their original formulation. The reader of this opus does not have to agree with the author's conclusions. For those, like me, who feel the need to embody Christian principles in real life as important contributions to human(e) endeavor but feel skeptical in the face of literal interpretation of Biblical stories, Spong provides a lens to view the information authored nearly two thousand years ago that is refreshing and revealing. Undoubtedly, his perspective is not totally original but it is very useful to me and I think it will be to many others. I have seen just a bit of the orthodox and fundamantalist critics of Spong's work. I can understand their points intellectually but I cannot agree with some of their intolerence toward adjusting our understanding of Biblical meaning and Christian faith as civilization unavoidably marches on. For insight as to my thoughts as I read this book: I believe in the approach to the Bible that emphasizes seeking an answer to "What does the story mean?" Personally, I am not very interested (any more) in "Why did it happen?" or "Is it literally true?" Spong's book is aimed at impressing folks who recognize the differences among these questions and want to seek answers to all of them.
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